Steve Ellner's Blog on Venezuela, Latin America and Beyond

The centralization of ownership of the private media in the United States and elsewhere has become increasingly pronounced, at the same time that its reporting has become increasingly one-sided and monolithic. My blog seeks to expose this lack of objectivity and present alternative ideas that point in the direction of much-needed fundamental change.

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

OVER 15,000 SUPERENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORTERS OF BERNIE SANDERS IN THE FAIRGROUNDS OF SACRAMENTO, CA

I worked as a volunteer helping on the line outside Bonney Field
where the event took place yesterday (May 9). I would say that over 90 percent of the people were
under 30. When I got there at 10:00 AM people were already waiting on line even
though Sanders was scheduled to speak at 7:00 PM (he actually spoke at 8:30).
Everybody was super cooperative, upbeat and happy. I was also impressed by the
number of people who had Bernie signs, pins, shirts and other paraphernalia. Although
I hardly can talk on the basis of a scientific sample, people were quite
adamant in their rejection of Hillary Clinton. The older Sanders people who are
more committed to the Democratic Party express fear that the “millennials” may
prefer not to vote or to vote for a third party rather than vote for Hillary if
she is the candidate. If that’s the case, consider me a millennial.

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

DONALD TRUMP: “The Slickest Con-Man out of NYC”

DONALD
TRUMP’S EXCUSE “I DON’T KNOW THE GUY” GOES WAY BACK IN TIME. THE
CORPORATE MEDIA REFUSES TO CALL HIM OUT ON THIS RUSE. Journalist Tom Robbins
interviewed by Democracy Now’s Amy Goodman shows how Trump (“The Slickest
Con-Man out of NYC”) began his real estate career under the influence of the
notorious Roy Cohn, Joseph McCarthy’s right-hand man, who after leaving
Washington became closely tied to organized crime in New York. Trump cut deals with
these same elements and when asked about them, he would routinely say “I don’t
know them personally.” This became his modus operandi as he built his real
estate empire in New York, and Atlantic City. Trump uses the same excuse when
confronted with the fact that he re-tweets messages that he gets from notorious
racists. When asked, he responds by saying that he shares the opinion expressed
in the tweet itself and that he has no knowledge of who wrote it. The racists
view his response as a shrewd way of showing his support for their cause, without
getting any flack for it. His refusal to repudiate them empowers the racists
who are convinced that he is on board.

About Me

Steve Ellner has taught economic history at the Universidad de Oriente in Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela since 1977. He is the author of numerous books and journal and magazine articles on Venezuela history and politics. He frequently lectures on Venezuela and Latin American political developments in the U.S. and elsewhere. He received his Ph.D. in Latin American history at the University of New Mexico in 1980.